2018 BMW X2 SUV

7.6

Overview

BMW X2 is undoubtedly one of the most stylish and well-equipped crossovers available in the market. Being a car of its class, it doesn't fail on performance and is worth all the money. X2 offers the versatility of a hatchback and the components of an SUV. Available in all-wheel drive this car has broken away from BMW's tradition in terms of layout and platform it certainly is a refined vehicle wrapped in a small footprint.

xDrive28i 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)

Expert Review

carhp editorOctober 25, 2018

7.6

Overall Rating

8.1/10Features

6.7/10Engine

6.7/10Fuel Economy

9.0/10Interior

Starting at a price of $36,400, X2 carries its drivetrain and underpinnings with other compact SUV. Its 2.0-liter four-cylinder comes with a twin-scroll turbocharger which produces 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It cruises pretty well with both the front and back wheel as and when required.

Features

8.1/10

The X2 is offered in two versions: the front-wheel-drive sDrive28iand the all-wheel-drive xDrive28i. They share almost the same level of standard features and are powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which has 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Buyers can also opt for stand-alone features like leather upholstery, adaptive cruise control, and Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Trim

sDrive 28i

xDrive 28i

MSRP

$36,400

$38,400

Key Features

LED Headlights with Cornering Lights

Same Features as the sDrive 28i

LED fog lights

Four-wheel drive

Auto Start-Stop function

Electronic throttle control

Servotronic vehicle-speed-sensitive power steering

4-wheel ventilated anti-lock disc brakes with Dy NAmic Brake Control

Front and rear anti-roll (stabilizer) bars

LED Headlights with Cornering Lights

10-way power front sport seats

Tire Pressure Monitor

HiFi Sound System with 7-speakers and 205-watt digital amplifier

Rear-window defroster

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The sDrive with its exciting rear wheel drive makes for a great drive around town. People who want to take the car for an occasional track day can opt for the xDrive variant though. The all-wheel-drive version offers much better grip, suited for the track.

Engine

6.7/10

But despite the X2’s transversely mounted engine, its standard front-wheel drive, and its lack of a manual-transmission option, the badge is a sign that there’s the spirit of a real BMW lurking in here - caranddriver.com

Engine and Transmission

The BMW luxury crossover X2 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which has 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. It is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission which uses a three-cylinder 2.0-litre engine and the same transmission but performs better and is more powerful than its petrol sibling.

Though having a smaller engine for its size, it is quite responsive and gives a satisfying growl when pushed hard compared to other BMW four-cylinders. The eight-speed automatic transmission adds an arrow to its quiver as it delivers instant kicks-downs at just a touch of the accelerator.

Models

BMW X2 sDrive 28i

Mercedes GLA 250

Audi Q3 Premium

Lexus NX 300

MSRP

$36400

$33400

$32900

$36185

Engine

2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo inline 4-cylinder

2.0L inline-4 turbo

2.0L Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4

2.0L Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4

Transmission

8-speed automatic

7-speed automatic

6-speed automatic

6-Speed automatic

Horsepower

228hp

208hp

200hp

235hp

Torque

258 lb.-ft. @ 1450 rpm

258 lb-ft @ 1,250-4,000 rpm

207 lb.-ft. @ 1700-5000 rpm

258 lb-ft @ 1,650\u20134,000 rpm

This stylish BMW gives a tough competition to its peers like Lexus and Audi as its powerful engine is brisk and responsive with plenty of torque. Even accelerating in a merging situation, the engine doesn't aggravate the engine, nor does it sound strained and coarse.

Acceleration

Though BMW's cars in this configuration have different horsepower ratings and weigh differently, acceleration of the X2 xDrive28i, X3 xDrive30i, and X4 xDrive28i vary by a 0.1 second or less, across-the-board, a testament to the BMW 2-liter engine.

Models

BMW X2 sDrive 28i

Mercedes GLA 250

Audi Q3 Premium

Lexus NX 300

0-60 MPH

6.6 sec

7.2 sec

8.2 sec

7.2 sec

Quarter mile

14.9 sec

15.3 sec

16.1 sec

15.3sec

Engine

2.0 L

2.0L

2.0L

2.0L

Emission

(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)

7.1

6.5

7.7

7.1

BMW claims a 6.6-second 0-60 acceleration time for X2 which is quite impressive compared to its competitors like Q3 and GLA which accelerate to the same speeds in 8.2 sec and 7.2 seconds respectively.

Ride and Handling

X2 with its driving dynamics and acceleration has the ability to cling on to wet roads and provide you a crisp handling. This little BMW SUV boasts beautiful linear steering with good power which makes the most of its all-wheel-drive setup as it powers out of turns and down straightaways. It maneuvers smoothly on the highways and provides ample feedback when presented with hard corners.

Although not being sportscar its four-wheel drive gives it some resemblance of off-roading credibility. It is as comfortable and composed on surface streets as you'd hope, and its suspension would make you feel very adept on the track in Sports mode which is perfectly comfortable and accommodating.

Braking

The X2 has standard brakes that work well with its quick acceleration. Its brake pedals are quite smooth and comfy which promises you to give a progressive feel which is easier to manage. From its previous variants, it's less heavy and gives one o the best results in the break tests. The X2 SDrive 28i took just 111 feet to stop from a speed of 60mph.

Model

BMW X2 sDrive 28i

Mercedes GLA 250

Audi Q3 Premium

Lexus NX 300

Brake Front (in.)

13.0

12.6

12.3

11.7

Brake Rear (in.)

13.0

11.6

11.1

11.2

Curb Weight (lbs.)

3499

3428

3682

3940

60-0 MPH (ft.)

111

120

118

127

The NX 300 has the smallest brakes amongst all the cars here. As such, it has the weakest braking performance here. The Merc is the lightest but still falls behind the Beemer and the Q3.

Fuel Economy

6.7/10

The X2 has a similar drivetrain to the X1, which manages to return a combined 25mpg which equals to that of Lexus NX and better than Audi Q3.

Model

BMW X2 sDrive 28i

Mercedes GLA 250

Audi Q3 Premium

Lexus NX 300

MPG (city)

21

24

20

22

MPG (highway)

31

33

28

28

MPG (combined)

25

27

23

25

GLA with its thirsty engines performs poorly in this category as it returns just 27 mpg which is quite less efficient compared to the cars in this segment.

Interior

9.0/10

Inside, the X2 is a near match to the X1. Both have the same high-quality materials and the same design. The only differences inside are slight reductions in cargo space and headroom. -caranddriver.com

The X2, being a subcompact luxury crossover, may look small from the outside but is easily able to accommodate five large adults in comfort. Passengers in the second row will feel comfortable as the car has plenty of leg and headroom for those measuring below 190cm and can comfortably take two large child seats via ISOFIX ports if the need arises.

Model

BMW X2 sDrive 28i

Mercedes GLA 250

Audi Q3 Premium

Lexus NX 300

Passenger capacity

5

5

5

5

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

39.8/55.6/40.3

38.4/56.0/40.2

37.0/55.8/40.0

38.2/57.3/42.8

Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

39.8/53.9/36.7

35.4/53.2/27.1

37.4/53.6/31.1

38.1/55.3/36.1

Meanwhile, all the cars in this variant have almost the same seating capacity which is a good thing. GLA disappoints with its cramped rear legroom.

Infotainment System

X2 has one of the best infotainment systems in the business, and whether you choose the standard 6.5-inch screen or prefer the larger 8.0-inch screen, it works equally well. . Here's a mini list of infotainment features you will find in your BMW X2:

AM/FM/CD audio system

19 inch 10 spoke titanium alloy wheels in sports plus package

Standard 18-inch turbine alloy wheels

19-inch off-road design wheels with sports package.

Apple CarPlay costs 500$ extra for three years and approx. $150 a year which is definitely at odds with other car manufacturers as smartphone integration comes standard at much cheaper rates.

Cargo volume

Since X2 is 302 inches shorter than X1 its cargo space is inferior to its elder sibling. X1 boasts of 27.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 58.7 cubic feet with the seats down while the Beemer's numbers decrease to 21.6 and 50.1 cubic feet of total space.

Model

BMW X2 sDrive 28i

Mercedes GLA 250

Audi Q3 Premium

Lexus NX 300

Cargo Volume with rear seats up (ft.3)

21.6

17.2

\xa016.7

17.7

Cargo Volume with rear seats down (ft.3)

50.1

43.6

50.3

54.6

BMW is roomier than its counterparts, Merc and Audi and beats them with significant numbers as they have 17.2 cubic feet and 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space respectively.

Exterior

There’s a BMW roundel stuck to the C-pillar of the new X2. It’s an impossible-to-miss detail on a crossover-hatchback thing that is in itself impossible to miss, especially in Galvanic Gold Metallic - caranddriver.com

Dimensions and weight

The X2 is quite a light car as per its dimensions. It weighs just 3 and a half thousand pounds, which places it towards the lower end of the spectrum. The ground clearance is a generous 7.2 inch, enough for limited off-road antics (which aren't encouraged though). At a little over 170 inches, the X2 is quite compact too.

Model

BMW X2 sDrive 28i

Mercedes GLA 250

Audi Q3 Premium

Lexus NX 300

Curb weight (lbs.)

3499

3428

3682

3940

Length(in)

172.2

173.9

172.8

182.6

Width(in)

71.8

71.0

72.1

73.6

Height(in)

60.1

60.0

62.6

64.8

Ground clearance (in)

7.2

5.3

6.7

6.9

Wheelbase (in)

105.1

106.3

102.5

104.7

Track width (in) F/R

61.6/61.6

60.9/60.8

61.1/61.2

62.2/62.2

The Q3 has the smallest wheelbase and is easy to navigate through crowded parking lots. The Lexus has very generous overhangs in the back, which make it difficult to reverse. You have to be aware of the extra area in the rear to be able to maneuver it properly.

Safety

Following are the safety features of BMW X2:

Head Protection System (HPS) front and rear

Front side-impact airbags

LATCH for child-restraint safety-seat installation

Programmable LED Daytime Running Lights

Anti-theft alarm system

IIHS and NHTSA have not rated the BMW X2 SERIES.

Competition

BMW X2 vs. Mercedes GLA 250

Being one of the most entertaining crossovers in the class it certainly stands tall among its rivals. Given its performance, it returns good mileage and just like X2, its all-wheel-drive lends it some all-weather capacity.

On the contrary, it has a very limited cargo room, leg room, and headroom. Its firm ride quality can make you exhausted on rough roads. Additionally, its Automatic transmission operates awkwardly in stop-and-go situations which is a big let-down. Although the GLA provides tons of tech and safety features. On the inside, you'll feel abundant road and wind noises.

BMW X2 vs. Audi Q3 Premium

The most compelling part about Audi Q3 is its lower price compared to its peers. It wouldn't let you complain about the ride quality as it swiftly maneuvers even on rough roads. The interior of Q3 is lined with high-quality materials and it also boasts of a plenty of interior features.

When it comes to handling and acceleration it lags behind its class rivals like X2 and also performs poorly on fuel economy. Almost every crossover comes with a USB but unfortunately, Q3 doesn't.

BMW X2 vs. Lexus NX 300

The only area where Lexus beats the others is that it has the best cabin in its class. It also flaunts a generous backseat and power-folding rear seats are available. NX 300 has a limited cargo volume and its remote touch interface can be quite distracting for drivers.

Final Verdict

The 2018 BMW X2 is undoubtedly one of the most stylish and well-equipped crossovers available in the market. Being a car of its class, it doesn't fail on performance and is worth all the money. X2 offers the versatility of a hatchback and the components of an SUV. Available in the all-wheel-drive this car has broken away from BMW's tradition in terms of layout and platform it certainly is a refined vehicle wrapped in a small footprint.